ANDREW WARING ASSOCIATES MENU

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saint’s Church in Fleet, Hampshire was originally built 1861 and is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings area. It sadly suffered an arson attack 2015 which destroyed the timber roof structure. At the time, AWA were appointed to undertake a report on the severity of the damage, and to give their view on what could be reused and what needed to be replaced. AWA found the brick structure was largely unharmed, but all the timber and structural elements were damaged beyond repair. The initial project was focused on the re-roofing of the church, but over time evolved to be the full restoration of the church, which was finally handed back to the congregation in April 2023.

Client: Parochial Church Council

Location: Fleet, Hampshire

Architect: Clews

The Objective

The project objective was to reinstate the roof and complete a full restoration of the church back to its former glory, taking the opportunity to make some obvious and significant upgrades along the way. These included a new west porch and full underfloor heating.

As a Grade II listed building, the restoration of All Saint’s Church required a sensitive approach to preserve its historical integrity.

Project Detail

A key aspect of the project was the reinstatement of the roof structure, which used glue-laminated timber trusses due to the complexity of the curved ceiling. The trusses were spaced at 600mm intervals, custom-cut and curved in a factory before being delivered to the site for installation. Working within the church required full undercover scaffolding, so work could be completed whatever the weather.

A major difficulty arose from the irregularities of the existing structure, as is the case with most historic buildings, the existing structure of the church was geometrically variable, making the installation of a new roof structure challenging. Specifically, the head of the wall that supported the roof was inconsistent, so to overcome this AWA fixed a timber plate to the head of the wall that was consistent, so the trusses could rest on something that was true.

During the project, a shallow raft foundation from a 1950s extension was discovered at the western end of the church. This unexpected find required additional strengthening work. Furthermore, when preparing the substructure for a new west porch, archaeological remains were uncovered. This prevented the use of traditional trench foundations, leading to the use of screw piles and a shallow suspended concrete slab to minimise excavation and protect the remains.

The project also involved the installation of a new limecrete slab with underfloor heating, dramatically improving comfort and reducing energy consumption. The new west porch, which serves as the main entrance, adds a welcoming feature to the church. The addition of a stunning stained glass rose window above the porch enhances the aesthetic appeal.

"This project is testament to AWA’s detailed drawings and problem solving skills. Their collaborative effort with CLEWS Architects, the contractor Buxton and the church stakeholders meant the church’s historical integrity was preserved while modernising it for future use."

While the project encountered challenges due to the building’s heritage and structural imperfections, the results have surpassed expectations.

All Saint’s Church is now fit for modern use, offering improved functionality while preserving its historical significance, ensuring the building continues to be a key focal point of the town.

Why choose AWA

AWA is a structural engineering and civil engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.

Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.

AWA has chartered engineers in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients across the South, South East and South West.

Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.

Contact us today

To find out more about how AWA can help with your project, get in touch today. Call 01794 524447 (Romsey) or 01225 251498 (Bath)  to speak to a member of our team. Alternatively, email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch.

Call us